Senator Tommy Tuberville sets his sights on Alabama’s governor mansion with a tough conservative platform that’s already drawing significant support from President Trump and key Republican power players.
Key Takeaways
- Senator Tommy Tuberville has officially announced his candidacy for Alabama governor in 2026, ending his Senate career after one term.
- Tuberville, a strong Trump ally and former football coach, is positioning himself as a frontrunner to replace term-limited Republican Governor Kay Ivey.
- His campaign emphasizes “conservative Alabama values,” focusing on manufacturing growth, illegal immigration prevention, and education improvement.
- Tuberville has received endorsements from President Trump and the fiscally conservative Club for Growth organization.
- His gubernatorial run will create an open Senate seat in Alabama for the 2026 midterm elections.
Football Coach Turned Senator Now Aims for Governor’s Office
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville announced Tuesday his intention to run for Alabama governor in 2026, stepping away from his Senate seat after just one term to pursue the state’s top executive position. Tuberville, who made the transition from celebrated college football coach to U.S. Senator in 2020, will seek to replace term-limited Republican Governor Kay Ivey. The announcement ends months of speculation about Tuberville’s political future and immediately positions him as a leading contender in the race due to his name recognition across the state and strong support from President Donald Trump.
“I’m doing this to help this country and the great state of Alabama. I’m a football coach. I’m a leader. I’m a builder. I’m a recruiter, and we’re going to grow Alabama,” Tuberville said during his first post-announcement appearance on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show.”
Tuberville’s entry into the governor’s race shifts Alabama’s political landscape significantly. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, previously considered a likely candidate, has already announced he will not seek the governorship. This development, combined with Tuberville’s strong conservative credentials and alliance with President Trump, establishes the former Auburn University football coach as an early frontrunner. His candidacy also creates a coming vacancy in the Senate that will be contested during the 2026 midterm elections.
Former Auburn football coach and current Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) @CoachForGov launched his gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday, touting his "conservative Alabama values." pic.twitter.com/aGwPz3cSMz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 27, 2025
Championing Conservative Alabama Values
Tuberville’s newly launched campaign website emphasizes his commitment to “conservative Alabama values,” highlighting positions that resonate strongly with the state’s predominantly Republican voter base. The former coach and senator has established himself as an outspoken opponent of progressive policies, particularly on social issues. His platform directly challenges leftist ideologies that have gained traction in other parts of the country but remain deeply unpopular in Alabama.
“Men are men and women are women” and “allowing men to compete in women’s sports is wrong,” Tuberville states on his campaign website, taking direct aim at transgender policies he characterizes as “poisonous ideologies.”
In his announcement, Tuberville emphasized economic development as a central campaign theme, promising to prioritize manufacturing growth, education improvement, and stemming illegal immigration. His economic vision focuses on creating conditions that would encourage Alabama’s young people to remain in the state after completing their education, rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. This approach aligns with traditional Republican priorities of job creation and economic opportunity through business-friendly policies.
Fighting for Alabama’s Future
Tuberville’s Senate tenure has been marked by his willingness to take strong stands on controversial issues, particularly his months-long hold on military promotions in protest of Pentagon policies providing travel expenses for service members seeking abortions. This action demonstrated his pro-life credentials but drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans concerned about military readiness. Tuberville has consistently defended his position as necessary to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortion-related activities.
“We’re going to bring manufacturing to this state. We’re going to stop this illegal immigration. We’re going to make education better again, and we’re going to do everything possible to make sure our kids… stay in this state and work,” Tuberville promised in outlining his gubernatorial vision.
As a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and advocate for strict border security measures, Tuberville’s policy positions align closely with Alabama’s conservative electorate. His successful 2020 Senate campaign, which saw him defeat former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the Republican primary before unseating Democratic incumbent Doug Jones, demonstrated his political appeal in the deeply red state. With President Trump’s endorsement and established name recognition from both his coaching and Senate careers, Tuberville enters the gubernatorial race with significant advantages over potential challengers.
